I started counting calories this week, though some days were harder than others because I couldn’t get a totally accurate count and had to guess. But counting seems to have paid off. This week’s weight was 196.8, down 1.2 pounds since last week. This makes me really happy. I think this is the missing component that’s going to get me where I need to go.

In the past, when I was on Weight Watchers, I was measuring, weighing and counting all day long. It got to be so tiring that I would eat processed foods that came in a can or box because then I wouldn’t have to weigh and measure. That led to weight loss but not great health. Last year around this time I was also counting calories but eating a lot more fresh fruit and vegetables, and I was using www.calorieking.com to get the counts. That resulted in me losing about 4-5 pounds per month. All of this combined with my workouts should work for me.

Speaking of working out, I’ve found the sweet spot on my elliptical machine that keeps my heart rate in my target zone of 140-150bpm. I’m still doing the weight lifting, though I stopped seeing gains on some machines while I have made gains on others. So I decided to try some other machines that work the same areas where I’ve plateaued to see what happens. I like these new machines better; they don’t hurt my knees and feet so much.

In my last update I mentioned an addiction to fast food French fries. Oddly, and without conscious intent, I haven’t had any fast food French fries in 12 days. I think just openly admitting my love for the fries did something to me. I can’t really explain it, but I haven’t had cravings or desires to eat fries for the past 12 days. Maybe it’s because I’ve given myself permission to have them if I want them, and now suddenly it’s not as big a deal as it used to be.

I also went online a couple of days ago and looked up the calories and fat values for places like Wendy’s, Burger King, and Carl’s Jr. Once I saw how many fat and calories I was really eating, I just didn’t want them anymore. This is the principle of Truth at work. Hiding from these facts did nothing for me. Maybe my weight loss this week can be attributed to the deletion of the fries from my diet. Who knows?

I’ve decided to post my health updates every other week instead of every Monday. This will give me a chance to post more blog entries that are not just about me and my health goal. I don’t have as much time for blogging as I’d like to have, so I don’t want 50% of my updates to be about my health. Thank you to everyone who is following my saga, and thanks to all of you who have written to tell me my saga is inspiring you. That means a lot to me.

All in all, this has been a great week for me. Tune in on April 27 for the next update, and in the meantime, feel free to weigh in (pun intended) on what’s been going well for you and your health goals.

Erin Pavlina is a highly gifted intuitive counselor who connects with your spirit guides to provide you information and insights that will help you on your path. Get clarity, assistance, and direction that will lead you to a happier and more fulfilling life.